VECTRA SRI 150
This 54 reg SRI has done 177k miles but doesn't show it. It drives well and feels generally as though its done less than half this.
The interior is as clean as the exterior so overall it was worth the £2k we paid for it.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS. This is the first Vauxhall I have driven or even travelled in for many years and to be honest, after J Clarkson had his say on Top Gear, wasn't expecting too much. However, bearing in mind the mileage, the SRI ride quality is good, the handling respectable and the performance with a Turbotune fitted, mighty impressive. The brakes are excellent with good bite and the steering is not over assisted although lacking in feel. The steering wheel is too big but does have the radio and computer controls on it.
It is smooth, quiet, and effortless to drive so I can see why reps like it, but its not what I'd call an exciting or involving drive. It does, however, become a lot more interesting with another 30+bhp! I'd imagine an Astra or one of the smaller Fiat/ Alfas with this engine to be astounding.
The engine (2003 spec I believe), a joint GM/Fiat development & manufactured by Fiat and is smooth and quiet and will pull without protest in any gear from 1000rpm. Its more refined than the Ford engine in the X-Type (& Mondeo) because its smoother at very low rpm (the X-Type's shakes around 1200rpm) and doesn't suffer from any discernible diesel knock, whilst being just as quiet when revved. It did eventually suffer from an egr problem - something which happens to many many diesels and makes the whole idea of them being an emissions reduction device a joke.
The performance is now in a different league and it took both a remap and a Synergy on the X-Type to get close to this Vectra's stomp with just a Turbotune fitted. I believe the main culprit that lets down the X-Type (& the Mondeo too) is the pathetic intercooler. On the Vectra it is almost the same dimensions as the coolant radiator and measuring the intake air temperature at the inlet manifold via the ODB port shows it to be very effective, with barely any rise even on max boost of 23psi. The X-Type's intake air temp on the other hand would rise by as much as 1.5C for every psi of boost so temperatures of 60C were often seen. This may account for why neither 2 nor 2.2L Ford engines produce much of a bhp increase above 3500rpm - the power curve just goes flat at this rpm. Whereas the Vectra, like our Audi A3, just keeps on 'pulling' way past 4500rpm in any gear. There could be other factors of course such as valve timing and combustion chamber design, but attempts to crack 200bhp with a 2.2Mondeo ST TDCI by the ST-TDCI Owners club proved difficult. With a more effective intercooler things would have been different I suspect.
EGR FAULT: We did notice a marked drop in low down torque after a few months, which was soon traced to a defective egr valve. (We initially tried a new maf sensor to little avail). Subsequent investigations turned up details of an egr blanking plate available for the 1.9L Fiats. This was produced to improve egr valve reliability and we fitted one with the new egr valve. The blanking plate has a hole in it and so allows enough exhaust gas through ostensibly to prevent the ecu logging an egr fault and also requires 2 gaskets to sandwich it between. Apparently neither Vauxhall nor Saab will sanction the fitting of this and just expect their customers to pay for a new egr valve on a regular basis! See below for more details of our egr and dpf disabling options.
SYNERGY 2B UPDATE. Sept 09 NOW ON SALE IN THE ONLINE SHOP
This was fitted on the 6th and the results are phenomenal. With a Synergy 1 there was a little visible smoke on all settings, too much in fact on anything over 3 with the strong Synergy firmware installed initially. However, for owners who don't want to fit a Synergy2b, we have modified the Synergy firmware to cut down the fuelling and reduce smoke to negligible amount. The Turbotune version is also largely smoke free (there's a puff when you floor the throttle due to the turbo lag, but this is the same for most diesels eg VW, Ford etc.
For the Synergy 2b, rather than weaken off the settings we increase the air instead, by turning up the boost pressure electronically. I have already used this technique on our Rav4, a 150bhp 2.2L Avensis, Fiesta 1.6tdci and Chrysler Voyager so it does work very well. So more fuel and more air equals even more performance.
On part throttle the boost pressure can be 3-4psi higher than normal which reduces turbo lag and improves throttle response. On full boost, the pressure increase is limited to 2-3psi above standard (or about 22psi according to my boost gauge). The result is that even on setting 9, there is negligible smoke above 2000rpm and provided you open the throttle progressively below this, little more at low rpm. Overall. the performance reminds me of my biking days - just twist the Ducati's throttle and you are past before the driver has even looked in his mirror. Certainly feels like a nice smooth quiet 2.5 or 3L motor - totally amazing for a 1.9 litre.
TYRES TO AVOID - Pirelli P Zero Asymetrico. The car needed some new rubber and I had 3 little used (1k miles) 225/45/ZR17 PZeros off the X-Type. So off came the Eagle NCT 215/50/17s and on went this cr*p. On the Vectra, they are just as they were on the X-Type: noisy, quite harsh, with indifferent grip. The X-Type was superb with Toyo T1rs, and these I still prefer and they are 2/3rds the cost.
NEW SERVICE FOR ALFA, FIAT VAUXHALL / SAAB OWNERS
These vehicles suffer from two common and inevitable faults, both costly to fix:-
The DPF AND EGR VALVE. The latter costs over £150 + fitting charge and a new DPF, close to £1000 fitted. Problems with either will cause the warning light to come on and can invoke limp mode, although a faulty / leaking egr valve may just produce poor performance below 2000rpm. ALL vehicles WILL experience problems with both units eventually.
We can now disable both items to avoid this expense and also improve reliability, performance and fuel consumption. We supply a blanking plate for the fitting between the egr valve (this is not removed, just blanked off and disabled in the ecu) in case it has jammed partially open.
The dpf is retained although we have heard of owners having the innards removed to eliminate the clogged element (NB. we don't offer this service)
POSTAL SERVICE AVAILABLE TO TRADE AND RETAIL FOR 1.3 TO 2.4 ENGINES
Just remove the ecu and send by Royal Mail Special Delivery to us. We will disable the dpf and egr valves and return it with an egr blanking plate for £250 + vat + £10 insured next day postge.
OR, why not have a mild remap to boost economy, reduce turbo lag, and cut down on gear changes done at the same time. The cost is just £320 + vat + £10 postage.
Please call Darren on 01670 818914 or email sales@energytuning.co.uk
c) ENERGY TUNING LTD 2009/10. E&OE